It’s intense and I admit to being cruised out on the larger ships which just keep getting larger which obviously means more people in your face every single day. But unfortunately not enough places to hide and find solitude.
I really did enjoy Alaska on Princess Cruises however. Not as crowded and the itinerary isn’t nearly as alluring to kids/teens so there’s less of that to contend with. You can also do a portion of the trip on land and Alaska really is a beautiful place to explore.
They also have barge cruises in Europe (cruising rivers like the Rhine) which look really lovely. Several friends who know about my being cruised out have recommended them highly. Again, not your average cruise ship experience.
My brother is talking up a European river cruise that is an eight day experience. I will probably be OK doing this because you can always see land. That is a big thing for me.
Thriftymaid 